Food Tenant Fire at Gambir Station: Train Operations Remain Normal, KAI to Review Preparedness

A fire broke out at one of the food tenants in the southern area of the ground floor of Gambir Station, Central Jakarta, on Saturday (7/11) evening. Although it briefly caused panic and the video went viral on social media, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) Operation Area 1 Jakarta confirmed that all train journeys to and from the station continued to run normally.

According to the Public Relations Manager of KAI Daop 1 Jakarta, Franoto Wibowo, officers moved quickly as soon as they received the report at 20.37 WIB. Coordination with related units and the fire department was carried out to bring the situation under control. The fire was extinguished at 20.55 WIB, only about 18 minutes after the incident was reported.

In the initial response, officers used the hydrant facilities available in the platform area of track 1 and track 4 at Gambir Station. Four fire engine units arrived at the location at 20.48 WIB to assist the extinguishing process. Smoke briefly drifted toward track 1, but KAI stressed that the condition did not disrupt train operations.

"We confirm that no train journeys were disrupted by this incident. All journeys to and from Gambir Station continue to run normally," Franoto said in an official statement on Saturday (7/11).

The incident drew public attention after video footage of the fire spread widely on social media platforms. Nevertheless, KAI moved swiftly to ease concerns by providing transparent information about the operational impact. Gambir Station itself is one of the main transport hubs in Jakarta, serving thousands of passengers every day, so even a minor disruption has the potential to cause a knock-on effect.

As a follow-up step, KAI Daop 1 Jakarta will conduct an evaluation with related parties to identify the cause of the fire as well as review the safety and emergency response preparedness aspects within the station environment. Franoto expressed an apology for the inconvenience caused and reaffirmed the company's commitment to continuing to prioritize safety and operational reliability.

The incident also serves as a reminder for other public facility managers of the importance of maintaining fire protection systems, especially in commercial spaces with heavy activity. With its high passenger volume, Gambir Station is required to have robust evacuation and early detection protocols. The evaluation promised by KAI is expected not to stop at identifying the cause, but also to produce measurable procedural improvements.

Going forward, the public will await the official investigation results regarding the source of the fire and concrete recommendations to prevent similar incidents from recurring. Will this evaluation be followed by a thorough audit of all tenants and safety infrastructure at other major stations? The answer will determine the extent to which the safety commitment in the public transport sector is tested.